After months on the decline, today's nationwide average for regular unleaded fuel is $3.52, up 2 cents from $3.50 last week.

According to the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, prices a month ago were $3.61. Last year at this time, consumers were paying $3.78 at the pump.

Today's mid-range unleaded is $3.69, from $3.67 last week. Premium gas is $3.85, from $3.83 last week.

Diesel fuel prices averaged $3.87, a slight drop from $3.88 last week. The price of diesel fuel is down from $4 last month and from $4.08 a year ago.

Natural gas

Natural gas prices rose following declines earlier in the report week (April 24-May 1), except at Algonquin Citygate. The Henry Hub closed at $4.30 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) May 1, up 5 cents and 1.2 percent for the week, after declining to $4.16 per MMBtu on April 26.

At the NYMEX, the May 2013 contract also declined through April 26, to $4.152 per MMBtu. It then traded up 5.8 percent to $4.392 per MMBtu on April 29, its final day of trading. The near-month (June) NYMEX contract finished trading yesterday at $4.326 per MMBtu, 3 cents above the Henry Hub spot price.

Pizza company stocks

Shares of Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed last week at $68.08, up from $67.20 the week prior. Yum's 52-week low was in early February at $59.68. The company's 52-week high was $74.75 in November.

Domino's climbed to $55.49 on Friday, up from $51.92 the week prior after a strong Q1 earnings report. Domino's hit a fresh 52-week high on Tuesday at $56.45. Its low was in June at $28.17.

Papa John's closed last week at $64.34, up from $62.16 the week prior. PZZA turned in a new 52-week high earlier in the day at $65.86. The company hit its 52-week low of $45.19 a year ago.

CEC Entertainment Inc., parent company of Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, closed out last week at $32.94, up slightly from $32.77 the week prior. CEC hit a new 52-week high of $38.83 earlier in the day on Friday after a positive earnings report. The company's 52-week low was in August at $28.23.

Pizza Inn closed out last week at $7.37, up from $7.14 the week prior. PZZI hit a new 52-week high on Monday, $8.23, after announcing the opening of its first franchised Pie Five unit. The company traded as low as $2.18 in June.

Alicia Kelso /
Alicia has been a professional journalist for 15 years. Her work with FastCasual.com, QSRweb.com and PizzaMarketplace.com has been featured in publications around the world, including NPR, Good Morning America, Voice of Russia radio, Consumerist.com and Franchise Asia magazine.